Perhaps a trip to sunny Southern California is exactly what the Seattle Mariners need.
Because their bats have yet to warm up as they head into a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels that begins Friday in Anaheim, Calif.
The Mariners’ Nos. 2-4 hitters — Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor — are a combined 7 for 78 (.090) with one extra-base hit and 30 strikeouts this season.
“I don’t think it’s going to last like that,” said Raleigh, who is 4 for 25 with 15 strikeouts. “I don’t think Naylz is going to go hitless for the year; same with Julio. I think everybody is going to be just fine once they get that timing, once they get comfortable in the box.”
All three had an abbreviated spring training while participating in the World Baseball Classic — Raleigh for Team USA, Rodriguez for the Dominican Republic and Naylor for Canada.
It might not have helped that temperatures in Peoria, Ariz., in the last week of spring training were pushing triple-digits, while some of their games on the season-opening, seven-game homestand were played with temperatures hovering just above 40 degrees.
Manager Dan Wilson said it’s the coldest he’s ever felt at T-Mobile Park.
“We faced some really tough pitching, and no question about it … they’ve kept us a little quiet,” Wilson said. “But again, seeing some of the at-bats later in the ballgame (in Wednesday’s 5-3 loss to the New York Yankees) and the way the guys have continued to make their adjustments, you know, I think we’ve got good things to come for sure.”
Raleigh suggested the Mariners might be under increased scrutiny after nearly qualifying for their first World Series last fall, dropping Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to Toronto.
“It’s under a microscope, more so now than it is in the middle of the season just because it’s the start of the season, everybody’s excited,” Raleigh said. “It’s not a big deal.”
Seattle activated starting shortstop J.P. Crawford (right shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Thursday and he’s expected to make his season debut.
While the Mariners split a four-game series with Cleveland and dropped two of three against the Yankees, the Angels went 3-4 on their season-opening trip to Houston and Chicago, where they faced the Cubs.
One positive for the Angels has been the play of Mike Trout, who is back in center field and looking like the player who is an 11-time All-Star and has won three AL MVP awards. He has two homers in seven games.
“The results are tremendous, but I think it’s more just seeing Mike enjoy himself out there and play the game like I played against him when he was younger,” first-year Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “Seeing that energy, seeing that positivity, that confidence, it’s just been so infectious on everybody, coaches included. That’s the Mike that everybody grew up watching as a younger player. I just think the vibes have been awesome.”
Friday’s game is scheduled to feature Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo (0-0, 3.00 ERA) against Angels lefty Reid Detmers (0-0, 5.79).
Woo is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels, while Detmers is 2-2 with a 6.16 ERA in 12 career appearances (seven starts) versus Seattle.
–Field Level Media
